Bridle control bit

ABSTRACT

A bridle bit including opposite side elongated plate-like upstanding shanks for disposition at the sides of the mouth of a horse and including rein eyes at their lower ends and support eyes at their upper ends through which adjacent ends of the nose band and lower ends of the cheek straps of the associated bridge are secured. A chain chin strap is secured between the lower eyes of the shanks or cheek pieces and approximately the upper third of each of the shanks disposed below the upper end eyes define vertically elongated eye portions between which a bit or mouthpiece chain is secured, the opposite end links of the bit or mouthpiece chain being slidably disposed on the front portions of the vertically elongated eye portions of the shanks or cheek pieces whereby the elevation of the ends of the bit or mouthpiece chain may be increased along the eye portions of the cheek pieces or shanks as the associated reins are pulled rearwardly so as to swing the lower ends of the cheek pieces or shanks rearwardly and upwardly.

United States Patent [191 Morgan [451 Aug. 14, 1973 BRIDLE CONTROL BIT Veldon Morgan, Ellsworth, Nebr. 69340 [22] Filed: July 21, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 164,699

[76] Inventor:

481,172 8/1892 Heinze...'. 54/7 676,312 6/1901 Hawthorne 54/9 636,159 10/1899 Metcalf 54/9 841,007 1/1907 Fretwell 54/9 2,006,032 6/1935 Rupert 54/7 Primary ExaminerAldric h Medbery V Attorney-Clarence A. OBrien and Harvey B. Jacobson ABSTRACT A bridle bit including opposite side elongated plate-like upstanding shanks for disposition at the sides of the mouth of a horse and including rein eyes at their lower ends and support eyes at their upper ends through which adjacent ends of the nose band and lower ends of the cheek straps of the associated bridge are secured. A chain chin strap is secured between the lower eyes of the shanks or cheek pieces and approximately the upper third of each .of the shanks disposed below the upper end eyes define vertically elongated eye portions between which a bit or mouthpiece chain is secured, the opposite end links of the bit or mouthpiece chain being slidably disposed on the front portions of the vertically elongated eye portions of the shanks or cheek pieces whereby the elevation of the ends of the bit or mouthpiece chain may be increased along the eye portions of the cheek pieces or shanks as the associated reins are pulled rearwardly so as to swing the lower ends of the cheek pieces or shanks rearwardly and upwardly.

7 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures Patented Aug. 14, 1973 3,751,877

Fig.

Ve/don Morgan INVENTOR.

Y 2mm".

BRIDLE CONTROL BIT The bridle bit of the instant invention has been specifically designed and weighted to have proper balance to set perfectly in a horse's mouth at all times permitting the rider and the horse to better respond to rein al lowing full control of the horse regardless of the size or age of the rider.

The bit includes a pair of upstanding opposite side shanks with nose band and cheek strap anchored eyes at their upper ends and rein eyes at their lower ends. A chain chin strap is supported between the lower eyes and the upper third of the shanks of the bit define upstanding slide portions with which the opposite end links of a bit or mouthpiece chain are slidably engaged. The chin strap may of course be in the form of a strap or rod secured between the lower end eyes of the shanks of the bit and the bit or mouthpiece chain could be replaced by a solid rod having follower members on its opposite ends slidably engaged with the guides of the shank.

The guides of the shanks with which the opposite ends of the bit chain are slidably engaged are arcuate and disposed in upstanding planes containing the shanks of the bit and thearcuate guides open horizontally in a rearward direction when the shanks of the bit are substantially vertically disposed. However, a rearward pull on the lower ends of the shanks of the bit is operable to swing the lower end portions of the shanks rearwardly and upwardly with the result that the arcuate guides on the shanks of the bit with which the ends of the mouthpiece are slidingly engaged are swung to upwardly opening positions thereby enabling the opposite ends of the mouthpiece to shift along the shanks toward the upper end nose band and cheek strap anchored eyes of the shanks.

The main object of this invention is to provide a bridle bit construction which will be operable to provide greater control over a horse by even inexperienced younger riders.

Another object of this invention is to provide a bridle bit constructed in a manner whereby maximum control over the horse may be afforded thereby and yet control over the horse is afforded without undue pressures being exerted to the mouth of the horse.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a bridle bit which will apply gradual pressure to the mouth of the associated horse when the reins attached to the bridle bit are pulled rearwardly.

A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide a bridle bit of the control type in accordance with the preceding objects and which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple construction and easy to use so as to provide a device that will be economically feasible, long lasting and substantially automatic in operation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevationalview of the head of a horse having a bridle construction of the instant invention thereon and with the reins of the bridle being pulled rearwardly to apply gag pressure on the mouth of the horse;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. I but with the associated reins relaxed; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the control bit.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings the numeral 10 generally designates a horse having a head 12 on which a bridle referred to in general by the reference numeral 14 and constructed in accordance with the present invention is disposed. The bridle 14 includes the usual nose band 16 and opposite side cheek straps 18 extending along opposite sides of the head 12. The nose band extends across the top of the nose of the head 12 and the bridle 14 further includes a curb strap 20 connected at its opposite ends to the mid-portions of the check straps l8 and passing beneath the chin of the head 12.

With attention now invited more specifically to FIG. 3 of the drawings, the numeral 22 generally designates the control bit of the instant invention. The bit 22 includes a pair of upstanding opposite side flat shanks or cheek pieces 24 whose lower ends are provided with rein anchoring eyes 26 and each of the eyes 26 includes an apertured integral mounting portion 28 between which a chin strap 30 of the link chain type is secured.

The upper ends of the shanks or cheek pieces 24 include eyes 32 to which the opposite ends of the nose band 16 and the lower ends of the cheek straps 18 are secured, see FIGS. 1 and 2.

The upper third portions of the shanks or cheek pieces define elongated eye portions 34 and the eye portions 34 include upstanding arcuate forward legs 36 disposed in the planes of the shanks 24 and which open horizontally rearwardly. The legs 36 define upstanding guides and the control bit 22 includes a bit or mouthpiece chain 38 whose opposite end links 40 are slidably engaged with the guides 36 for vertical movement therealong.

The chin strap 30 may of course be rod-like in nature as opposed to a link chain and the bit or mouthpiece 38 may also be in the form of a solid transverse rod. However, if the mouthpiece is constructed in the form of a solid rod, the opposite ends of such a mouthpiece rod are provided with ring portions correspnding to the end links 40 of the chain 38 also slidably engaged with the guides 36.

With attention now invited more specifically to FIGS. I and 2 of the drawings, it may be seen that the control bit 22 has its opposite side shanks or check pieces extending along the opposite side checks of the head 12 and that the bit or mouthpiece chain 38 is received in the mouth 42 of the horses head 10. The eyes 26 have the forward ends of reins 44 secured thereto and when the reins 44 are relaxed as illustrated in FIG. 2 of the drawings, the bit or mouthpiece chain 38 is allowed to slide downwardly along the guide 36 so as to be received in the lower portion of the mouth 42 when the shanks or check pieces 24 are in substantially upright positions. However, when a rearward pull is exerted in the reins 44, the lower end portions of the shanks or cheek pieces 24 are swung rearwardly and upwardly and the end links 40 carried by the opposite ends of the bit or mouthpiece chain 38 slide upwardly in the horse s mouth 42 to the midportions of the guide 36.

It may be appreciated that when the reins 42 are pulled rearwardly gradual upward and rearward pressure is applied to the bit or mouthpiece chain 38 in the mouth 42 of the horse 10. Further, because the end links 40 of the chain 38 may slide upwardly along the guides 36 as the reins 44 are pulled rearwardly, the bit or mouthpiece chain 38 is allowed to slide straight upwardly through the center of the mouth 42 without applying excessive pressure either to the lower lip or the upper lip of the horses mouth 42. Further, inasmuch as approximately two thirds of the length of the shanks or cheek pieces is disposed below the lower ends of the guides 36, the lower ends of the shanks may be considered as weighted and thus swingable, by gravity, from the positions thereof illustrated in FIG. 1 of the drawings to the relaxed positions thereof illustrated in FIG. 2 of the drawings as soon as rearward pressure on the reins 44 is relieved.

Because the bit or mouthpiece chain 38 exerts a gradual upward and rearward pressure in a path extending centrally upwardly through the mouth 42 as the reins 44 are pulled rearwardly, even a relatively sharp rearward pull on the reins 44 by an inexperienced horseman results in a relatively gradual rearward and upward pressure being applied to the mouth 42 of the horse by the chain 38. Also, inasmuch as the shanks or cheek pieces 24 are gravity weighted to the positions thereof illustrated in FIG. 2 of the drawings as soon as rearward pressure on the reins 44 is released, a gradual release of bit or gag" pressure is afforded whenever the reins 44 are relaxed.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In combination with a bridle including rearwardly and upwardly extending cheek straps, a control bit including a pair of elongated upstanding opposite side rigid cheek pieces including front and rear sides and with first means at their upper ends oscillatably supporting said cheek pieces from the lower ends of the opposite side cheek straps of said bridle for angular displacement about generally aligned horizontal axes extending between said upper ends, anchor means carried by the lower ends of said check pieces adapted to have corresponding ends of a pair of rein strap sections anchored thereto, an elongated flexible tension member chin strap extending and secured between the lower ends of said cheek pieces adjacent the upper portions of said anchor means, the upper end halves of the front sides of said check pieces including elongated upstanding smoothly curved arcuate guide portions opening toward the rear sides of said check pieces and extending rearwardly and downwardly at their lower ends, an elongated transverse bit having opposite ends and follower portions at said opposite ends loosely guidingly engaged with said guide portions for movement therealong, said anchor means being spaced downwardly along said check pieces from said first means a distance at least equal to twice the distance from the first anchor means to the lower ends of said guide portions.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said bit comprises a length of flexible link chain, said follower portions at said ends of said bit comprising the end links of said chain.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said opposite side cheek pieces comprise elongated strap members whose width dimension extends in front-to-rear direction relative to the front and rear sides of said cheek pieces and thickness dimensions extend in directions generally paralleling said aligned axes.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said means at the upper ends of said check pieces comprise eye portions whose medial planes are disposed generally perpendicular to said axes.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said anchor means carried by the lower ends of said check pieces comprise eye portions whose medial planes are disposed generally normal to said axes.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said first means at the upper ends of said check pieces comprise eye portions whose medial planes are disposed generally perpendicular to said axes.

7. The combination of claim 1 wherein the upper end halves of said cheek pieces define elongated eyes disposed below said means at said upper ends, each of said elongated eyes being defined between front and rear upstanding arcuate leg portions of said check pieces opening toward each other, said front leg portions comprising said arcuate guide portions. 

1. In combination with a bridle including rearwardly and upwardly extending cheek straps, a control bit including a pair of elongated upstanding opposite side rigid cheek pieces including front and rear sides and with first means at their upper ends oscillatably supporting said cheek pieces from the lower ends of the opposite side cheek straps of said bridle for angular displacement about generally aligned horizontal axes extending between said upper ends, anchor means carried by the lower ends of said cheek pieces adapted to have corresponding ends of a pair of rein strap sections anchored thereto, an elongated flexible tension member chin strap extending and secured between the lower ends of said cheek pieces adjacent the upper portions of said anchor means, the upper end halves of the front sides of said cheek pieces including elongated upstanding smoothly curved arcuate guide portions opening toward the rear sides of said cheek pieces and extending rearwardly and downwardly at their lower ends, an elongated transverse bit having opposite ends and follower portions at said opposite ends loosely guidingly engaged with said guide portions for movement therealong, said anchor means being spaced downwardly along said cheek pieces from said first means a distance at least equal to twice the distance from the first anchor means to the lower ends of said guide portions.
 2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said bit comprises a length of flexible link chain, said follower portions at said ends of said bit comprising the end links of said chain.
 3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said opposite side cheek pieces comprise elongated strap members whose width dimension extends in front-to-rear direction relative to the front and rear sides of said cheek pieces and thickness dimensions extend in directions generally paralleling Said aligned axes.
 4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said means at the upper ends of said cheek pieces comprise eye portions whose medial planes are disposed generally perpendicular to said axes.
 5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said anchor means carried by the lower ends of said cheek pieces comprise eye portions whose medial planes are disposed generally normal to said axes.
 6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said first means at the upper ends of said cheek pieces comprise eye portions whose medial planes are disposed generally perpendicular to said axes.
 7. The combination of claim 1 wherein the upper end halves of said cheek pieces define elongated eyes disposed below said means at said upper ends, each of said elongated eyes being defined between front and rear upstanding arcuate leg portions of said cheek pieces opening toward each other, said front leg portions comprising said arcuate guide portions. 